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i'm here...it's been awhile since i've been able to get online as my son and i moved and didn't have service. but i'm back in business.

like i said, my son and i just moved...last week to be exact (for the second time in 4 weeks, but we're good now). we're doing ok but the emotional stress has been so hard. my son misses his dad so much and is really struggling with all of the changes he's had to face at such a young age. i'm really trying so hard to be the best mother to him and do all of the right things but doing this alone and trying to accept being positive all at the same time just sucks. i've worn myself out this week in trying to get organized in our new house, travel for work, be a mom, attempt to stay healthy, etc., i just need to find a way to chill out and relax.

i've been positive since april (when i was diagnosed) and i still find that i'm always tired and when i'm tired i get a terrible sore throat - is this normal? also...i'm dealing with a cold sore and a yeast infection - is this normal so early into being positive? it's such a drag and a constant reminder...

I'm sorry to hear you've been having such a difficult time recently and I hope things start to settle down for you soon.

The tiredness could be caused by many things, including - but not only - hiv. Depression, for example, can cause you to feel tired, so can being anemic - there are many possibilities. Please speak to your doctor about this so it can be investigated further.

Cold sores (herpes) are notorious for popping up when you're stressed and run down and to a certain extent yeast can get out of control for the same reason. Please see your doctor about the yeast infection so you can get medication for it. Yeast infections in people with hiv need to be treated more aggressively than in people without hiv.

If you're having a lot of cold sore outbreaks, you can also talk to your doctor about medications for that. Here are two Lessons you may find helpful: Thrush and Herpes

You'll want to speak to your doctor about the sore throats as well. My hiv negative daughter always gets a sore throat whenever she's the least bit run down. We've had it investigated but there has never been an obvious cause. Hope you have better luck on that score.

You may find it helpful to write the questions you have for your doctor down in a little notebook. It's so easy to forget things once you're in the office, especially when you're stressed anyway. It also helps to write down what the answers were - I can't tell you how many times I neglected to do that and promptly forgot what I'd just been told. Most annoying!

Hang in there hun and don't forget to take time out for yourself. Moving is one of the most stressful things we can do, so give yourself some extra pampering and rest time. I recently moved too and in the end, I had to stop telling myself that everything had to be perfect and in place ASAP - take care of the important stuff and leave the "extras" for when you're feeling more energetic. It doesn't all have to be done at once, take it easy.

And I know, it's easy for me to say "take it easy" when you've got a young child to look after, but you need to look after yourself too and that includes getting plenty of rest. Let the time after his bedtime be "ME" time - don't be tempted to use it to get more done around the house.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I'm glad Ann found your post first. She's always got solid information to share and, being a mom, she can come from that view for you.

It was a relief to see the post rise up on the thread list today. As I read, I recalled how much I hate moving and what it stirs up inside. It's on the top ten list of stress makers for a good reason.

I'll second Ann's advice about carving out time for you whether to read, walk, soak in a tub, visit the forum, see a movie, etc. or all of those types of things. A spiritual group I know of has as one of its basic tenets...Take Care of Yourself so that You Can Take Care of Others. Seems to fit for your life these days.